Garden tool



B. O. CUDDIGAN EVAL GARDEN TOOL m Hl. me# MKV A wm. N f N n m W, wf ...,lVwuHW TIV n A I .'BARTHLOMEW Gunn V AM Attor Oct. 30, 1945.

B. O. CUDDIGAN ETAL GARDEN TOUL ocr. 3o, 1945. E, o, CUDD'IGAN ETAL 2,387,748`

' GARDEN TOOL A Filed June 19, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet Y or knives in position for weeding or light cultivation.

Fig. 13 is a View in rear elevation of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the said blades in a different position and also showing a plant.

Fig. 15 is a partial view in side elevation showing the implement with a share.

Fig, 16 is a partial plan view of a modication, some parts being shown in diierenit positions in dotted lines; and Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings a garden tool or implement is shown having a shoe 20 adapted to travel along on top of the ground. While shoe` 29 could be variously made, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, it is'shownas having a bottom surface which is convex both laterally and longitudinally. Secured to the shoe 28 is a shank 2|. While shoe 20 could be secured to shank 2| in various Ways inthe embodiment of invention illustrated, said shoe is shown as having 'a member or rod 22 secured thereto, the same being bent to extend upwardly at an acute angle and being receivable in a bore in the end of shank 2|, which shank is shown as having a tapered end.` Portion 2|a at the end of the shank if made of wood may be equipped with a ferrule. While member 22 might be secured to diierent portions of shoe 20 it preferably is secured to said shoe at substantially the longitudinal and transverse center thereof. 'l Member 22 can be held in different positions in shank 2| by some suitable means such as the thumb screw 23. In the operation of the implement, shank 2| extends up- 2|, in which it can be secured in different positions by some suitable means, such as the thumb screw 25. Y e

` VVA* head ortool holder 21 is provided carried on shank 2| and while this could be carried on said shank in various Waysin the embodiment of the invention illustrated; shank 2| has secured thereto a bar 28 which is disposed adjacent the lower end of said shank and has a portion 28a extending rearwardly at an angle tosaid shank and a portion 28h which is curved upwardly and then rearwardly and secured to said shank.

Bar 28 passes through head 21 and has holes or notches 28o therein at atleast two places which holes or notches are adapted to receive the end of a set screw 29 and to show denite and proper positions of head or tool holder 21. When set screw 29 is tightened head 21 is 'held in one of said positions. Head 21 has a portion rthereon which is provided with a bore which may receive the shank of various operating tools.; In Fig. 6 said portion 21ahas therein the shank of a shovel 38. Said shank 30a of shovel 30 is held in portion 21a by a thumb Vscrew 3|. Saidscrew 3|V is shown ,in Fig. 15 in which portion 21a is shown as having therein the shank 32a of .a plow share 3 2. In Figs, 6 and 7,head 21 isnalso shown as having secured therein ,al pair of markers or marking devices 34. SaidV members. .34v lare formed of flat bars having their ends turned ldown downwardly at right angles. 'Head 21 is provided with a slot 2lb in which bars 34 are disposed in over-lapping relation. Said bars can be moved to different positions laterally and are held in the desired position by a thumb screw 35.

In Figs. 1 to 5 and 9 and 11 to 13 head 21 is shown as having therein a pair of blades or knives 35. Blades 35 extend laterally in opposite directionsA and 4are reversely bent downwardly in curved formation so that their end vportions 36a are directed inwardly. Said blades or knives have sharpened` front edges 36h which extend some distance in the vertical portions thereof. When head 21 is in one position as shown in Fig. 12 the-portions 36a of blades 36 are positioned in substantially parallel relation with the surface of the ground. In this position as shown in Fig. 12 shoe 20 is moved outwardly some distance from the end of shank 2|. In Fig. 1 head 21 is shown in another position in which the blades Y 3B have their-end portions extending at an vangle to the surface of the ground, th same inclining upwardly toward their free ends. In this position shoe 25 is in closer-relation to the end of shank 2|. As shown in Fig 3 blades 36 can be moved so that their ends are substantiallyin contact or as shown in Fig. 2 said-blades can be moved so that their ends arequite far apart.

In Figs. 9 and 10 aY modification is shown in which a head 31 corresponding to'head 21 already described, is carried on a bar 38 which is pivotally mounted in a slot 39a of a shank 39 corresponding to shank 2| Bar 38 has av pair of downwardly inclined open-ended slots 38a in: itstop, in one of which one end'of a bail 40 is adapted to be disposed. Bail 40 has its rear ends pivotally mounted in the sides of shank 39. Bar 38 is held inthe desired position by a thumb nut 4| threaded on a headed bolt 42 through shank39 and bar By loosening thumbY nut 4| bar 38 canQbe swung about its pivot after 'bail is releasedso that bail 40 may be disposed in the desired slot 38a. In the position shown* in Fig. 9 Vthe blades 36 are disposed asshown inFig. l2. With bail 4|] in the other notch 38a the blades Vwould bev disposed as shown in Fig. 1. e Y Y In Fig. 16 an implement is shown having two of the shoes 20. In this structurethe members 22 secured to the shoes are received in bores in the ends of a -yoke 45 and `are adjustablyheld therein by thumb screws. A' shank 45a'extends from the center of Yyoke 45 and-is vreenforced or braced by the rods 45h secured to and extending therefrom .to and secured toyoke 45. The Ytwo sides orfyoke 4 5 each have secured thereto a bar 41 which is identicalwith the bar 28 Yalready' described. On the bars 41,are respectivelyv positioned the heads 48 similar in all respects to head 21 already described. A pair of bladesAS similar to blades 36 are shown in the heads 48. Blades 49 could be reversedin the heads 43 and havejtheir end portions extend outwardly as shown indotted lines in Fig. 16. Shank45awill oefmcoursebe lOljQ- blades 36 is used and this is placedinj the; slot` 2lb. In place ofthe other .blade 35 a special bar or blade 60 is shown., ,The member B Ddhas a shank portion 60a which is also received inthe slot 2 1b overthe .end ofvthe blade 3 6.` At'th right of head 21 memberV 60 extendsupwardlyj later'- ally and downwardly in substantially rectangular form" to form a yoke-like portion 60o and then is provided witha downwardly and outwardly curved portion 60h similar. to blade 36. It will be seen that? member 6D and blade 36 can be adjusted to bring the curvedl or operating portions closer together or farther apart. Member `6D and blade 36 will be held in head 2l by-means of set screw 35 as already described. The shank 2| and shoe 20 will be located at one side of the curved portion of blade 36 and portion 60h in longitudinal alinement with head 2l. Thehead 2l can be adjusted as already described to its different positions on member 28. With the structure shown in Fig. `l'lfthe shoe can run at one side of the rowA and the blade 36 and the portion 66D will be disposed at opposite sides of the row.

In operation the implement will be provided with the desired operating tools and will be properlyadjusted for the desired operation. If the implement is to be used for Very light cultivation or mulching or for weeding, the blades V36 will be used and will be positioned as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the end portions of the blades having theY sharpened edges being disposed so thatthey will move substantially parallel to the surfacev oi the ground and at a short distance below said surface. The ground will thus be cut and loosened into very iine condition and any weeds or grass 50 in the path of the blades will be severed or pulled up entirely. When the blades 36 are in the position shownin Figs. 12 and 13, the shoe 20 is adjusted outwardly somedistance from the end of shank 2l. It is then inthe proper position to co-operate with the blades 36 in their position.` The operator merely holdsthe handle 24 and pushes the implement along. The shoe 2U rides easily and smoothly along the` top of the ground and supports the implement so as to main-- tain theoperating tool in the desired position. The shoe functions much better in soft or sandy ground or ground which is in ine or semi-fluent condition than would a wheel. The shoe will stay nicely on top of the ground where` a wheel would sink into the ground. When it is desired to cut off a row of plants such as bean vines or otherA plants the blades 36a can be moved so that their, ends are substantially in contact and the same can` then be moved directly over the row. Asthe blades move along they will sever the plants in the row. There is a great advantage in the reversely bent and curved formation of blades 36a. The tool can be moved along quite close to the plants and the downwardly and inwardly curved portion of the blade is directed away fromV the plants so that it in a sense moves parallel to the root formation as shown in Fig. 14. Asshown in Fig. 14 the blades 36 need not be disposed centrally in relation to the shank but can be moved so as to be largely at one side of head 21. The

blade at one side can then extend well under cer tain plants such as cabbage. a

When it is desired to do deeper cultivating and to move the dirt laterally somewhat,.the blades 36 will be positioned as shown in Fig. 1. At this time shoe 20 is positioned `quite closeto thev end ofyshank 2|. This causes the blades 36 to go deeper into the soil and as they move along they will not only loosen the soil and eliminate any grass orweeds, but they will have a tendency to move the dirt towards the ends of the blades. Theimplement can thus be used with the blades (16A` only thereinand these blades can be varioush1 positioned to give the .different results desired.

Shoe 26 as above described is positioned to" suit thepsition oi' the blades 36 `withoutechanging the pitcher angle 'of shank 2 l; 1 t

'Ihe'implemen-t can also be usedr to open a furrow. Thisoperation is shown in Figs. 6 and'lr'?. Ther shovel 30 which is carried inthe portion Ilia moves `through `the ground and makes or opens-a furrow such as illustrated in Fig. ll. Alsoat this time the markers :i4V or one of' them may be used and as one furrow is made, a mark is made for the operator to follow in making the next fur` row. After the furrow is made the seed 5l `can be deposited therein. After the seedis thus deposited the shoe 20 can be runA along the `furrow and it will cause enough dirt to move ntothe bottom of the furrow and over the seed asis usually necessary. The dirt is thus moved over the seed'and the dirt'is packed somewhat on the seed by shoe 20. `This action is illustrated in Fig. 4. By having the shoe convexed transversely the lowest portion is at the center and .this facili; tates the packing action on the seed on the'bot` tom of the furrow. The curvature of the shoe longitudinally causes it to run more easily over, the surface of the ground. The front end of the shoe will not dig into the ground. It is sometimes desirable to operate the tool with a reciprocating motion with a progressively forward action so that itis desirable to have the rear endl of the shoe curved upwardly somewhat. By having the shank connected to the center of the shoe a nice control of the shoe action can behad.

If it `is desired to cover the seed more deeply the blades 36 'can be used as illustrated in Fig. 5. said blades 'being positioned as shown in Fig. `1` and these blades will cause a little more dirt to be moved into the furrow and over the seed.v The implement thus has a high degree of utility in planting and covering seed of many kinds.

When it is desired to hill or ridge up a row as when the final cultivation is given to potatoes. the plow share 32 can be used in holder 21 and it will throw.the dirt in the desired direction.v With the implement shown in Fig. 16 the shoe 20 will move at each side of the row containing the plants 52,` The blades 4.9 in this tool can be adjusted to have their ends the desired distance from the plants or they may be brought close together to severthe plants asin harvesting beans or onions. The action of the blades 49 will be similar to that already described for blades 36. With the blades 49 reversed the blades will eX-- tend downwardly and away from the plants and a row can be cultivated simultaneously at each side.

The operation of the tool shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is the same as that of the tool illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 11 to 14. Said Figs.` 9 and. 10` merely show a diierent structure for adjusting the position of the opera-ting tools.

In the operation of the tool as shown in Fig. 17 the shoe 2U will run at one side of the row 0f plants while the blade 36 and `portion 60h of member 60 will be disposed respectively at opposite sides of the row. The plants can thus be cultivated at each side simultaneously'. The raised intermediate portion of member 60 is pro vided so that the plants can pass under the member 66. The member 60 and blade 36 will` be adjusted to` be at the desired distance at each side of the row of plants. They can be brought quite close to the row or if `desired can be sepa`` rated a greater distance. It will be understood` that head 2l canbe adjusted toits several tions so that the operating portions ofv blade 36 and member 60 will travel as v shown in Figs. 9 and 12 or if vdesired in the position rshownin Fig. 1. Y The structure shown inliig. 17 therefore makes a very efficient toolforweedin'gvor ,cultivating at both sides of the row and yet only one shoe is used. It will thus be seen thatythe tool can be used to completely'weed vand ,cul, tivate all parts of the garden. j Y

From the above description it will be; seen that we have provided a simple and highly efficient implement which will have a high'degree of utility in giving the proper care to a garden and one which will be very eilcient. The implement can be easily and quickly moved along the row of plants and can be moved quite close to the plants Ias the curved blades used sweep downwardly and away from the roots. The shoe 2U moves easily along the ground and is Vgiven the right pitch in its curvature for easy movement. As described the transverse curvature of the shoe gives an eflcient action inlcovering and packing seed in a furrow. The handle 24 can be adjusted longitudinally to suit the height of the operator, This is important as the handle should be at the right height for the particular person so that the proper and desired positions of shoe 20 and the operating tool may be maintained. The various operating tools used,l may-be easily and quickly placed in the device or removed therefrom. As stated the device can not only be used for mulching, weeding and various types of cultivation, but can also be used tocut oi a row of `plants of various kinds when this'is desired. The device is very efficient as a weeder. The portions 36a of blades 36 move a short distance beneath the surfaceof the ground, working the ground into ne condition and al1 weeds or grass or severed r pulled up. The blades are quite `sharp se that there is no tendency for the grass o-r weeds to hang on to or clog the too1s.

The implement has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very success-` ful and eicient.

It will, of course, be understood` that variousV changes maybe made in the form, details,A arrangement and proportions .of the parts, .without departing from Ithe scope of applicantsV inven-s tion, which generally stated, consists in a device' capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts .dis-

closed and dened in the appended claims.,

What is claimed is: W 1. A garden tool having in combinatiom a shoef having a lower surface adapted to ride on top of the ground, an elongated ,shank secured to said shoe `and extending upwardly and rearwardly from said shoe, a handle at the upper end, of.

said shank adapted tobe held by the operaton a holder supported by said shank, means for hold: ing said holder in different positions at different angles respectively to the longitudinal axis of said shank, a tool carried in said holder and movable laterally therein and means for holding said tool extending upwardly Vand rearwardly therefrom in longitudinal ,alignmentY with said portion, a handle at the upperf end of said shank adapted tobe held by the operator, a tool in ltherear Vof said shoe movable to different positions longitudinally of said shank, said portion being adjustable to diierent positions longitudinally of said shank to position said shoe to correspond with and function properly with said tool in the respective positions of the latter.

4. A garden tool having in combination, ashoe adapted to ride upon the top o-f the ground, an elongated shank secured to said shoe and extending upwardly and rearwardlytherefrom, a handle at the upper end of said shank adapted to be held by the operator, a holder adapted to receive various tools, means on lsaid shank carryingsaid holder on which said holder is movable to positions making diierenit angles with the longitudinal axis of said shank, a knife receivable in said holder extending laterally therefrom laterally movable therein and reversely curved downwardly to have its end portion extend inwardly, said end portion extending at an angle to-the surface of the ground in one position of said holder and extending substantially parallel to the lground in another position of said holder and means for holding said knife in said holder in different positions. e

5. A garden tool having in combination, a shoe adapted to ride upon the top of the ground, an elongated shank secured to said shoe and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a handle at the upper end of said shank adapted to be held by the operator, a holder adapted toreceive various tools, said shank carrying said holder which holder is movable to operating positions making different angles with the longitudinal axis of said shank, a pair of blades with sharp forward edgesY disposed in said holder and extendingin opposite directions therefrom, said blades being reversely curved downwardly to have their end portions extending inwardly, said blades being movable laterally to different positions in said holder and means for holding said blades in different positions in said holder whereby said blades may` be positioned at different angles to the tcp of the ground by movement of said holder and may also be held in diiferent positions in said holder.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, said handle being movable to different positions in said shank to, accommodate Voperators of dii'erent heights so that said Vblades can b e maintained in a substantially. constant relation to the top. of the ground, and means for holding said handle in position. A

7. A garden tool having in combination, ashpe adapted to ride upon the topY of the ground, an

elongated shank secured to said shoe and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom,v a handle at the upper end of saidV shank adapted tobe held by the operator, said shank .having a sup- 8. A garden w01 having in combination, a shoe adapted to ride upon the top ofthe ground, an

elongated shank secured to said shoe and extending upwardly anad rearwardly4 therefrom, a handle atthe upper end of'said shank adapted tobe heldfby the operator, asupporting' me'ans'on's'aid;V

shank extending at an angle to they longitudinal axis of said shank, a head carried on said means and movable to diierent positions on said means,

a pair of knives receivable in said head and exfor holding said blades in said head and meansN for holding said head in different positions on said supporting means.

9. A garden tool having in combination, a shoe adapted to ride upon the top of the ground, an elongated shank secured to said shoe and extended upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a handle at the upper end of said shank adapted to be held by the operator, a bar secured to the under side of said shank extending at an angle thereto and spaced therefrom, a tool holder movable on said bar, means for securing said holder to said bar in different positions and in diierent angular relation to said shank, said holder having means for receiving one or more operating tools and means for holding said tools in sai holder.

10. A garden tool having in combination, a shoe adapted to ride upon the top of the ground, an elongated shank secured to said shoe and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a handle at the upper end of said shank adapted to be held by the operator, a supporting means carried on said shank and extending at different angles to the longitudinal axis of said shank, a tool holder movable to positions on said supporting means at different angles to the longitudinal axis of said shank, a pair of blades carried in said tool holder, extending laterally therefrom and having downwardly and reversely curved end portions, said end portions extending` inwardly and said blades being movable to diierent positions in said tool holder and means for holding said blades stationary in said tool holder whereby the angular position of said blades can be varied by movement of said tool holder and the lateral position of said blades can be varied by movement of said tool holder.

11. Thel structure set forth in claim 1.0 one of said blades having a yoke like portion extending some distance above said tool holder and adapted to pass over plants in a row.

12. A garden tool adapted to be propelled by an operator having in combination, a shoe having a lower surface adapted to ride on the top of the ground, an elongated shank secured to said shoe and extending upwardly and rearwardly from said shoe, a handle at the upper end of said shank adapted to be held by the operator, a tool carried by said shank in the rear of said shoe and arranged to travel in the ground at a certain level andat a certain angle and means for holding said handle in different positions longitudinally of said shank and thus at dilerent heights so that operators of different heights can conveniently hold and push on said handle to propel said tool without varying the position or inclination of said tool.

13. A garden tool having in combination, a shoe adapted t0 ride upon the top of the ground, an elongated shank secured to said shoe and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a

handle at the upper end of said shank adapted to be held by the operator, a tool holder carried on said shank some distance in the rear of said shoe, said tool holder being movable longitudinally of said shank to thus be positioned at diierent distances from the ground and being movable to positions at different angles to the longitudinal axis of said shank, a tool carried in said tool holder and movable to diierent positions therein and means for holding said tool in said tool holder. i Y

14. A garden tool having in combination, a shoe adapted to ride upon the top of the ground, an elongated shank secured to said shoe and extending upwardly andrearwardly therefrom, a handle at the upper end of said shank adapted to be held by the operator, a tool holder carried on said shank and blades extending laterally `therefrom and having downwardly and reversely curved end portions, one of said blades having a yokelike portion extending some distance above said tool holder and adapted to pass over plants in a row, said end portions being dis posed at either side of said row.

BARTHOLOMEW o. CUDDIGAN. JAMES F. 

